Interview: Six Questions For Womb – China Tour 2019

Te Whanganui-a-Tara psychedelic trio Womb are travelling to China this June for a senses-expanding ten date tour with "Bogan Madonna of New Zealand" Strange Stains, and visual artists Christopher Ulutupu and Laura Duffy. The sibling team of Charlotte Forrester, Haz Forrester, and Georgette Brown's superb debut album Like Splitting The Head From The Body (released by Arcade Recordings & Sonorous Circle) was deservedly acclaimed as one of the best local long-players of 2018, and supported by a visually dazzling series of self-created video works. We felt now was the perfect time to touch base with Womb singer / guitarist Charlotte Forrester ahead of the family band's overseas adventure, organised by online publication Kiwese, the project of Kristen Ng aka Kaishandao who also facilitated The All Seeing Hand's recent tour of China. Scope out the just-revealed dates for Womb and Strange Stains' tour here and read Forrester's thoughtful responses to Chris Cudby's probing questions below...

Kiwese Proudly Presents... Womb + Strange Stains
with Christopher Ulutupu & Laura Duffy
China Tour 2019

Saturday 29th June – 哑 DUMB Festival, somewhere near Guangzhou
Tuesday 2nd July – Real Live, Xiamen w/ Cheesemind
Wednesday 3rd July – Maker Live, Fuzhou w/ The 尺口MP
Thursday 4th July – Loopy, Hangzhou w/ Shponka
Friday 5th July – Prison, Wuhan w/ Ex Luna
Sunday 7th July – NU SPACE, Chengdu
Tuesday 9th July – Subterranea 2k19, 13Lounge, Chengdu w/ Kaishandao & more
Wednesday 10th July – Vein Lab, Xi’an w/ 大治
Thursday 11th July – DAFA, Tianjin w/ DivisionControl
Friday 12th July – DDC, Beijing w/ GUIGUISUISUI

1. How did the tour of China come about + who's organising it? Strange Stains is coming on tour too right?

The tour kicks off on 28th of June at a festival on the outskirts of Guangzhou. It's been about a year in the works now, liaising with Kristen Ng AKA Kaishandao who has been the mastermind behind the whole thing, arranging every single detail of the tour. We'll be touring China from south to north for three weeks, alongside the amazing Strange Stains. We are also lucky enough to be travelling with local artists and loved ones Laura Duffy and Christopher Ulutupu, who will be doing live VJing, and possibility sowing the seeds for a music video...

2. Womb's debut album Like Splitting The Head From The Body was a few years in the making and really well received. Are you working on any new material at the moment, or are you taking a break from recordings and allowing listeners time for those songs to sink in?

We definitely have plans for another album soon. We'd prefer not to rush any part of the process though — from writing the lyrics to creating the music to recording it. Gotta lie and wait for inspiration to strike.

3. Your videos are artworks in themselves. Can you please talk about how Womb's videos and artwork relate to the sounds you make and the words you sing? Is it important that you and your bandmates make your own visuals, in collaboration with friends?

Visuals are a really important aspect of Womb. Sound + words are only one form of expression, and we think being able to tap into other creative worlds makes the expression deeper. This is one of the reasons we are so excited to have Laura and Chris coming with us, as they will deepen the live performances by adding the visual world. As for music videos, it's an art form we feel we've only just skimmed the surface of, but definitely something the future holds.

4. I love Georgette's amazing paintings. Do you chat about ideas with her for Womb's visuals?

The art for Like Splitting the Head from the Body was a part of the album we were really excited to create. While we worked on the bedroom recording aspects of the album, Georgette worked on the painting, and each practice informed the other; the lyrics were quite literally interpreted in the artwork. We were inspired by medieval art, dreamscapes, and our personal family mythologies.

5. As a family band - what's the dynamic when you're travelling together?

We're ready for the chaos..........

6. Do you have any plans you’re looking forward to with Womb, once you get back from China?

We are having a homecoming show on the 26th of July at Meow and we can't wait!!!